Gas-generator



(No Model.)

W. RENNYSON.

GAS GENERATOR.

No. 405,911. Patentedaune 25, 1889..

.Attorney N. PETERS, Phom-mwgnphnr, wzmmgmn, D. C.

i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE..

TILLIAM RENNYSON, OF NORRISTOVN, PENNSYLVANIA.

GAS-GENERATOR.

SPECIFICATION' forming part of Letters Patent No. 405,911, dated June 25, 1889. Application filed January 30,1388. Serial No. 262,406. (No model.)

To allA whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM RENNYsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Norristown, in the county of Montgomery and State of Pennsylvania, have invented cert-ain new and useful Improvements in Gas-Generators, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain improvements in the manufacture of gas from crude petroleum or the fluid hydrocarbons; and it has for its objects to produce a fixed gas for fuel and illumination that will not condense in the pipes or other portions of the plant, as will more fully hereinafter appear.

To this end my invention consists in a retort or generator of peculiar construction, wherein the fluid hydrocarbon can be subjected to the requisite temperature to effect its conversion into a permanent or fixed gas, and maintained uniformly at such temperature until `'the decomposition is thoroughly effected, so that there will be no subsequent condensation, as more fully hereinafter specilied.

The above-mentioned objects l attain by the means illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l represents a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the improved retort or generator; Fig. 2, a longitudinal horizontal sectional view of the same; and Fig. 3, a transverse sectional view thereof, taken on the line y y of Fig. l, looking toward the back of the retort.

The letter A indicates a retort constructed 0f cast-iron or any other suitable material, of any convenient and any desired shape in cross-section. At suitable intervals in the retort are formed or extended the passages B, which are rectangular, circular, Oval, or of any other suitable shape in cross-section.

The letter C indicates a series of deilectors or concentrators located on the inside of the retort between the walls of the passages, the said deflectors being part of or formed on or secured to the inner walls of the retort, with the flaring or inclined sides toward the front of said retort.

l) indicates the front head of the retort,

through which extends an vinjector E,vwith which connect the pipes F and G, one of which supplies the retort with the fluid hydrocarbon and the other with steam or superheated steam, the draft of which forcibly in jects the hydrocarbon into the retort. From the rear of the retort extends an eduction-pipe H, by means of which the fixed gas is carried off.

The retort is set in the furnace in the usual manner, or a series of the said retorts maybe set in benches in the furnace, as desired. The furnace is of the usual or any approved construction. The heat from the burning fuel will pass around the outside of the retort or retorts and through the transverse passages thereof, heating the retort on the inside as well as the outside, producing the necessary temperature and maintaining it uniformly. lVhen the proper temperature is reached, the fluid hydrocarbon and steam are forced into the forward end of the retort by means of the in j eetor in properly regulated quantities, which will be determined by the character of gas to be produced and the quality of the hydrocarbon employed in its production. -The steam and hydrocarbon are projected against the heated front wall of the first transverse passage B and rebounded therefrom toward the front of the retort, being thoroughly heated and intimately commingled. From thence they pass t'o the rear of said iirst passage and through the first deflectors, by which they are concentrated and directed against the front wall of the second transverse passage B, where they are again turned back and again subjected to the action of the heat, as before. These operations take place succes sively throughout the passage of the vapors until the same are completely converted into a fixed gas, which finally escapes through the eduetion-pipe to a suitable holder in which it is stored.

It is obvious that instead of placing the deflectors on the sides of the retort and running the passages vertically through the retort, as l have shown in my present drawings, l may, without departing from the spirit of my invention in the least, locate the said deiectors upon the top and bottom, or in any other position upon the interior of the retort, and run the passages horizontally or diago- IOO nally through the same, as occasion may demand.

It is also obvious that instead of the deflectors being placed on opposite sides of the retort, I may form on the interior thereof larin g annular flan ges or concentrators, which will subserve the 'same purpose, as is evident.

It will be seen that as constructed every particle of the steam and fluid hydrocarbon is thoroughly subjected to the action of the heat and deflected and intermixed during their passage in such manner as to insure the thorough conversion of every particle of hydrocarbon vapor or fluid into a fixed gas which will not condense and return to a liquid form.

In the retort-s of the usual construction the heat is entirely on the outside, so that the iiuid or vapor is unequally heated, those portions nearer the walls being more intensely heated than that in the interior. By my in* vention this objection is overcome, the vapors and fluids by means of the transverse pas sages thro ugh the ret-ort being heated thro ughout equally, and by injecting said vapors and gases upon the hot Walls of the passages and causing them to rebound the decomposition is thoroughly effected and a permanent gas produced.

Having thus fully described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination of a horizontal retort A, provided with the vertical transverse passages B, extending entirely through the retort, the said passages being for the passage of the products of combustion from the furnace, the deflectors or concentrators on the interior of the retort arranged intermediate the said passages, and a steam and hydrocarbon injector projecting into one end of the retort, whereby the gas-producing materials are proj ected forcibly against the front Wall of each successive passage on their Way through the retort, substantially as herein set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix myisignature in presence of two Witnesses.

WILLIAM RENNYSON.

Witnesses:

A. S. HORN, A. \V. PETERSON. 

